Beyond These Walls (The Walls Duet #2)(35)

My head turned as we came to a stop in front of a huge porcelain tub. It reminded me of something from another era with its claw-foot bottom and ornate gold finish, but it had modern features, like jets and enough space for two.

Jude bent down and fiddled with the nozzles until he got the temperature to his liking. There were two bottles resting on a fancy towel. He held both out to me. “Which one?”

“Are you going to join me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

“Are you naked?” he replied in question, his eyes twinkling with humor.

I looked down at my lack of clothing, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips, and then I dragged my gaze back up to him.

I laughed briefly, shaking my head at his goofiness. I took a sniff at each bottle. I turned my nose up at the first—a musky rose scent. The second was more soothing—lavender and a bit of vanilla maybe. Jude dropped a small amount into the bath, and it quickly turned into frothy bubbles. I watched as he stepped in. With his back against the porcelain, he motioned for me to join him. Taking my time so that I wouldn’t slip, I placed my foot between his legs and descended into the hot water. My back was against his warm chest, and I felt his hands slowly dripping water down my arms and shoulders.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you’ve been sore before?” he asked softly as his head rested near my ear.

I took a deep breath. “Because I was afraid you’d pull back.”

“Pull back how?” He turned my head toward his.

“Tonight, the way you were, you’ve never been like that, Jude. And I know it’s because you’re afraid you’ll hurt me, that I’ll break somehow.”

His mouth opened to protest, but I continued, “Let me finish.”

He nodded against my cheek.

“I don’t blame you, and I don’t think less of you or feel dissatisfied. But sometimes, I see you holding back. And I don’t want that, Jude. I never want you to feel like you have to tread carefully around me—in the bedroom or anywhere else in our marriage. I want to be your equal—in everything. I’m not fragile anymore.”

“I know.”

“I know you do, so please stop treating me like I’m made of porcelain. I want all of you—the good, the bad, in sickness and health,” I said, quoting the traditional vows we’d decided to forgo but knew still applied.

“Even if it hurts you?” he asked, his hand slipping between my legs where I felt tender from the madness of consummation.

“Yes, especially then. Because those are the times we’ll need each other the most.”

“Can I ease it? The pain?” he asked, knowing we weren’t talking metaphors anymore.

“You can do that? How did you learn to do something like that?”

Why did I ask that?

Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to.

“You ask like it’s a superpower. It’s just an idea. I’m not sure it will work, but I thought we’d try.”

I exhaled, not realizing I’d been holding my breath.

He chuckled a bit behind me.

“Was that a bit of jealousy I sensed?”

I shrugged, and he tilted my head upward to meet his green eyes.

“You are my one and only, Lailah. Never forget that.”

My eyes squeezed shut, trying to memorize the moment. I didn’t know how many times I’d done this over the past two years, silently trying to time-capsule a memory, a feeling, or an emotion I shared with this man. I didn’t want to forget anything.

“Put your legs up on the ledge,” he commanded, his voice suddenly deeper.

I loved when his voice dropped and became demanding. I followed his instruction, placing one foot on each side, like I was ready to birth a baby. It was an awkward position, but it pushed my back further into his chest, so it was strangely comfortable.

I felt him adjust, and the jets suddenly came to life around us, the water rumbling and bubbling with life.

“Now, we just need to move slightly until we get the right angle—”

“Holy—” I cried out as a jet came in contact with my core, spread wide and open.

“There we go,” he said, pleased with himself.

I had no words. I was reduced to a writhing puddle of gibberish. Every minor movement pushed the pressured water into my sensitive area. I could adjust, sending the most focused area directly where I wanted it. There was no friction, no touch. It was soothing, yet I was careening, sliding, and falling into another orgasm quicker than I could anticipate.

“I’m going to—oh my God,” I cried out.

“Let go,” Jude encouraged.

My head fell back as a powerful orgasm sent me over the edge. I saw stars as my body floated back to earth.

I curled back into his arms as my heart steadied. Looking up at him, I realized he’d had it all wrong.

He was the angel sent from heaven.

And I was the lucky one who got to sleep within his winged embrace.

I WAITED FOR as long as possible before waking her. The first rays of morning hadn’t even begun to break through the clouds, but I knew if we didn’t leave soon, we’d miss our flight. Not that I couldn’t reschedule, but I wanted her to be able to see our destination as we flew in, and that could only be done if we left well in advance.